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Following Last years experiment with the Global P47 Thunderbolt I decided
to opt for another ARTF Model. After a few hours looking round Model
& Hobby World (Lancaster) at the choice he had and nearly, only
nearly, being tempted by an ARTF Aerobatic model ..(Saw the light in
time) I chose a VMAR ARTF Chipmonk. I've always liked the lines of the
Chipmonk and still have a renovation job on the go with a 73" model
bought second hand. I saw a few examples of this model at Woodvale last
year but not this one. At first glance the model appeared to be well
constructed and painted in near scale colours and markings. The instructions
were vague to say the least and in my opinion any beginner would struggle
to understand some of the diagrams and explanations.
The Kit came packed in polythene bags consisting of fuselage, two wing
sections, tail section, fin, and a bag of bits. First job, join the
two wing halves together inserting the dihedral brace at the same time.
Went together no problem with just a little sanding needed to insert
the brace. Next attach the tail and fin sections along with the steerable
tail wheel. Again no problem with all the parts slotting in nicely with
the control surfaces already installed. One point here, I felt a little
more care could have been used when inserting these as they needed quite
a lot of scalpel work around the hinge to get rid of excess glue and
free up the movement. The undercarriage was made from piano wire inserted
into grooves in the wing underside. They should be able to withstand
landings up on our grass strip ok. For an engine I used yet another
Irvine 46, my favourite. I've was more than impressed with the starting
and flying performance of the .53 I put in the P-47 so I thought I'd
go with it again. Mounting of the engine wasn't difficult although again
the lack of info provided by the instructions could have proven nasty
for a beginner.
Radio installation was no problem with a purpose built rack pre installed
in the Fuselage housing the three main servos. These linked to the control
surfaces by stiff piano wire rods. I substituted a snake for the throttle
connection though as this gave me more flexibility when trying to connect
through the firewall. The cowl came primed but not painted and the covering
supplied was not an iron on variety but more of a 'Solar Trim' type,
so I decided to use solar span I had lying around. Not quite the exact
red VMAR used but not a million miles away. Oh, just one more thing,
I took the cockpit off and took out the rather gaudy pilot and put two
other ones in that were something like scale.
One word about the covering now. As I mentioned earlier, the covering
looked fine but as I started to work on the model areas started to bubble
and crease, the same problem I had on my P-47 !! I thought I might be
able to just apply a little heat to shrink it back but VMAR have used
a polythene base covering that does not shrink and with any exposure
to heat, shrivels. So be warned !
All construction now done, radio installed, C of G checked, control
surfaces checked and set, I charged her waiting for a chance to test
fly. I had intended to take her to Flookburgh for her first flight but
ended up at our Rakesmoore Lane site instead. Range checked, ok ! We
had a little trouble getting the engine started but when we did everything
appeared to be ok, so off to the strip, checked movements, Full throttle,
down the strip lift off....then down… Second try , lift off and
for some reason keeled over and hit the ground wing over wing. On inspection
the impact had broken the fus in two along what looked like a join just
behind the cockpit. Definitely a weak point ! So all mended now waiting
for a fine day to try again...from Tarmac this time I think. All together
for the price of £89 not bad but not as good as the Global P-47
in construction. I'm well hooked on the ARTF's now and for the price
you can't beat them. I've an F4C- Corsair on order now from Global so
that and the P47 should make a nice pair in the air.
Many thanks to Wayne Butler
for the review
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